Barça strike gold in La Masia after Andreas Christensen's injury

Once again, La Masia has come to Barça's rescue at the most delicate moment. In the last few hours, it has been confirmed that Andreas Christensen will be sidelined for the next four months after a serious injury. The forecast is a direct blow to the planning, because the Dane was a balancing piece in the back line.

The impact comes in a context of defensive uncertainty that had already been building up. The physical doubts surrounding Araújo and Iñigo Martínez's hasty departure last summer have reduced the margin for maneuver in a key position. Barça finds itself, once again, forced to react in order to keep its aspiration for all the titles alive.

Flick stays with the bare minimum and Barça is forced to improvise

Right now, Hansi Flick only has two fully fit center-backs available: Cubarsí and Eric García. That lack of pieces has pushed the German coach to turn to Gerard Martín on several occasions to plug the gap, with emergency solutions in demanding matches. The strategy has worked in terms of competitiveness, but the risk grows with every match.

At the club the reading is clear: if Barça wants to compete for La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and Europe, it needs stability in its defense. Andreas Christensen's injury not only subtracts quality, it also removes an experienced reference point for managing difficult stretches. When experience is missing, any mistake is paid for more harshly.

Barça considers signings, but Christensen opens the door to the internal plan

Barça's first idea was to look for a top-level center-back in the market. Profiles such as Guéhi or Schlotterbeck, players with authority and immediate impact, have been mentioned. But January is a complex market, and prices skyrocket when a club arrives in a hurry.

In addition, Barça also needs the solution to fit its financial context and its wage management. The club can resort to internal mechanisms to use part of Andreas Christensen's salary and register a replacement. However, the surprise is another: everything indicates that Barça prefers to strengthen itself from within before going out to an auction.

Álvaro Cortés, Flick's bet to cover for Christensen

This is where Álvaro Cortés appears, captain of the reserve team and one of the most highly rated center-backs from La Masia. At 20 years old he is fully established in Barça Atlètic's structure and stands out for his leadership, tactical awareness, and ability to defend with space behind him. Flick knows him firsthand and knows that he has the tools to compete.

For that reason, the coach has reportedly requested his presence in the first team starting in January. The idea is that Cortés will join the dynamic, adapt to the pace, and be able to be a real option in the second half of the season. If the plan is consolidated, Barça will not only find a replacement for Christensen, it will also find another strategic long-term asset emerging from La Masia.